From bicycle planning to mapping to infrastructure expansion, counties and cities throughout the state are pushing forward with efforts to increase bicycling opportunities, reports Candy Thomson.
Maryland is already recognized as one of the top states for bicycling. It was ranked number 8 by the League of American Bicyclists, with good grades for legislation, enforcement, policies, education and planning. But, starting with Gov. Martin O'Malley's leadership, officials across the state are redoubling their efforts to increase bicycling opportunities.
Thomson details what several of the state's cities and counties are doing to address weaknesses in infrastructure and funding, and advance bicycle system planning.
In Baltimore, where bike commuting has increased 50 percent over the past four years, officials are looking to update the 2006 master plan, noted Nate Evans, the city's bike and pedestrian planner. "The biggest accomplishment during the past 12 months, Evans said, was securing more than $400,000 in state and federal money to expand the city's 40 miles of bike lanes and 39 miles of trails."
"Those projects include cycle tracks that place a bike lane between the curb and a row of parked cars to provide a margin of safety for riders. Maryland Avenue, Cathedral Street and Park Avenue could be prime candidates, Evans said."
FULL STORY: Cycling advocates find a lot to like in state, local bikeway plans

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing
A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.

Report: Bike Lanes Can't Make up for New Roads
If California wants to meet its climate goals, the state must stop funding its myriad road construction and expansion projects.

Minneapolis Affordable Housing Project Largest in 20 Years
The city opened its first large multifamily affordable housing complex in decades, but a recent court ruling against the Minneapolis 2040 rezoning plan could jeopardize future projects.

NYC Mayor Proposes Eliminating Parking Minimums
Mayor Adams wants to stop requiring off-site parking for new buildings to reduce the costs of construction as part of the ‘City of Yes’ package of zoning reforms.
Urban3
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.